Dear Editor: During the election, I received a phone message from Denise Hills, candidate for the chair of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. Ms. Hills tried to persuade me that the Chamber of Commerce was attempting to “buy the election” and that she was the only candidate who had the best interest of the students at heart.

I am on the board of the chamber, serving as its past-chairman, and I can attest that the chamber did not contribute a single dime to any candidate for this race or for any other municipal race, either directly or through a PAC. There are business people who chose to give of their own means to support candidates who they believed would do the best job of serving our children, and I am one of them.

But didn’t we as business people have the same right to show an interest in this election as anyone else? Many of us have children or family members who attend city schools. Business people are also important stakeholders because they are among the primary “customers” of the workforce produced by the school system. Business people also understand that a first-rate school system is an incredibly important component of our community’s economic development effort.

I find repugnant Hills’ attempt to characterize this race as “bought by the chamber” through her dishonest phone message and other smear tactics employed by her supporters.

I saw that one. Actions speak louder than words.I invite you to read the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce's 2013 Business Plan Priorities. Also, refer to earlier posts about how the challengers were funded by individuals and businesses prominent in the Chamber though PACS. Follow the money.

Edited To Add:

You might consider checking who gave money to the Educate Tuscaloosa PAC. The records are public record at the Tuscaloosa County Court House.

Last edited by Buckeye on Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

"For Every Confidence There Is Someone Willing To Betray It" Author Unknown

romc wrote:I do believe it is ridiculous to offer "drinks", "points", etc for votes. Seems to be desperate.

I also believe it is ridiculous to offer -day before the election- t-shirts, sausage biscuits, etc for votes. Seems to be desperate.

And for sure, I believe it is ridiculous to offer food stamps, welfare, 'have another baby' credits, etc for votes. Seems to be the world we are living in.

Hate to hurt your feelings, but everybody has the opportunity to play stupid if they want to.

Just because someone can do something doesn't mean they should do it. How could the students just do what they were told and follow like little mindless drones? Evidently some of them thought it was wrong or we might not be having this discussion. This isn't about playing stupid. This isn't a game.This is about doing stupid. Some did the right thing and some did the wrong thing. They had a choice.

As to t-shirts, sausage biscuits, etc. for votes. That's part of politicking. There is nothing illegal about having gatherings, big or small, to get more information about candidates, socialize and fundraise. Most importantly there is nothing illegal about it. Even big fund raisers that charge hundreds and thousands of dollars per plate, which I personally find abhorrent, are not illegal. However, possible registration and voter fraud are.

"For Every Confidence There Is Someone Willing To Betray It" Author Unknown

Buckeye - It is a game. It's trying to beat the system anyway you can to achieve the American dream(an American dream that is way different than the one me and you grew up with where you had to work your butt off to make it happen). I agree with you on the fact that voter fraud is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated, take the 80 votes away from them. But to think biscuits for votes is different than booze for votes, can't agree with you on that.

Celly- I could care less what color one is, voter fraud is wrong and should be dealt with. The deal on this thread though has reached into the "beer" for votes issue. That is not the issue at all so it needs to be left out, or we'll talk about "biscuits" too. And we'll keep going on that.

YG- I'm 100% on your first statement because it's mine. Can not quite follow the second statement though.

I didn't get any biscuits... or t-shirts for that matter. As a single mother of 3, I could use those. I also wasn't approached to come to "a gathering" to learn more about the candidates. I had to just wade through all the information I could find, trying to filter out the lies of course, and make the best choice I could based on that. I was however, accosted at the poll (actually 2 polls because I went to the wrong one first) by tons of people shoving signs in my face and waving and laughing all down the side of the road. I personally would like to get credit for being able to make a decision based on information and not on the last name I saw by the person looking the stupidest.

Beach_Bum* wrote:I didn't get any biscuits... or t-shirts for that matter. As a single mother of 3, I could use those. I also wasn't approached to come to "a gathering" to learn more about the candidates. I had to just wade through all the information I could find, trying to filter out the lies of course, and make the best choice I could based on that. I was however, accosted at the poll (actually 2 polls because I went to the wrong one first) by tons of people shoving signs in my face and waving and laughing all down the side of the road. I personally would like to get credit for being able to make a decision based on information and not on the last name I saw by the person looking the stupidest.

All that sign waving and yelling is nothing but hype. I don't know a single person who had not already made up their minds, days or weeks before, as to who they were going to vote for. Well, maybe with the exception of some of the "Greeks".

It's hard to filter though all the information. We get bombarded with literature, TV commercials and handouts. Some of it outright lies. We have to wade though all that, and our own personal experiences, to make the best decision we can.

As to the t-shirts...had you wanted one you could have called any campaign and received one.I don't know anything about any biscuits. I never got any.

"For Every Confidence There Is Someone Willing To Betray It" Author Unknown

JMHO wrote:And voter fraud, if it's proven to be voter fraud, is hardly analogous with being "bested by a bunch of kids".

Being "bested by a bunch of kids" is what happens when you are unable to motivate 74 people to vote for you.

This is becoming tiresome, for probably us both, to belabor the point.However... if 74 (or more) people voted for an opponent due to voter fraud, free liquor enticement, the promise of greater points awarded to their sorority/fraternity, or any other number of reasons outside the scope of an ethical (if not illegal) election process, then I'd hardly equate that as Horwitz being "unable to motivate people to vote",

Why do you keep repeating points that we have already agreed on?

JMHO wrote:I'd hardly equate that as Horwitz being "unable to motivate people to vote",but

74 votes in a district of several thousand, when less that 10% of the district voted for either candidate, certainly points to an inability to motivate voters.